that's more than the population of the show's home town in louisiana. >> they've managed to create a ta trkt arta -- patina of a show that's around a country format. >> reporter: not only are the robertsons real people, but they still live in their home time. one offers visitors to duck into the city of monroe and follow the beards. now for the beards. the unkempt facial hair is all its own. i even felt a little out of place when i met them last year. there is a solution for that. the duck dynasty beard booth. problem solved. "duck dynasty" outstanding ratings are a threat and an example of how tv ratings are being dumbed down to the lowest common denominator. >> what we're seeing is there are all kinds of viewers watching some of these shows for different reasons. some watch them because they relate to the characters, and some people watch it to feel superior to the characters. the truth is, for a & e's purposes, it doesn't matter why people watch as long as they keep doing it. >> reporter: fans, however, argue it's not the beards or the camouflage that makes it attractive to the au